>  Date:    8/18/99 12:13:58 PM CDT
>  From:    jfritz@DECORAH.K12.IA.US (Jim Fritz)

> The things that do appeal with the GTRV over the Sportsmobile is the
overall
> layout.  Compare the window size and amount...  The sportsmobile layouts
> hardly give any view from behind the driver because of the cabinets...
> The bed on the GRTV definitely looks larger than the Sportsmobile...
> the air conditioning option is a definite plus...

Keep in mind that Sportsmobiles are custom designed and built - you
can design your own floorplan, at no more cost than a "standard"
plan with the same equipment would be.  If you like big windows,
big beds, a particular cabinet arrangement, air conditioning, etc.,
all are available.  I think the price is a bit less than for a similarly
equipped GTRV "Westy" or Eurovan Camper, and there are a lot
more options available.  I especially like the straight-up pop-top,
which has big windows on three sides.

Just based on the literature, I'm much more impressed with the
Sportsmobile than the GTRV; I've never seen either one "live",
though.

By the way (addressing a concern expressed by others), I'm not
really bothered by GTRV using the "Westy" name, because
the real "Westfalia" campers are no longer made.  It seems to
me they're saying "Remember those wonderful old Westfalia
campers that they don't make anymore?  We do too, and so
we've made something similar."  I think that's a nice sentiment.
It's not like they're competing with Westfaliawerk, after all.

                                             -Steven Sittser